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Offering scholarships to middle-schoolers no longer novelty act

It always causes a stir, but it's not as big a deal as you think.

It’s just the world we live in.

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Alabama was the latest school to offer a scholarship to an eighth-grader (he has five offers, per 247Sports.com), this time Jesus Machado of Hialeah Champagnat Catholic School (Fla.). That comes a few months after Miami coach Mark Richt offered quarterback Harrison Bailey a scholarship.

It’s not a new trend. LSU landed a commitment from quarterback Zadock Dinkelmann for the class of 2018 — in 2014.